Paws & Play with Doctor J.

New Years is just over two weeks away, and while the sound of champagne bottles popping almost never goes off in my home, fireworks booming nearby, and a frenzied vacuum making its way around the house before guests arrive both happen way more often throughout the year than I'd like.

For some animals, these noises instill fear that literally makes them feel as though the sky is falling. And it doesn't take a loud boom, sometimes it can be something as common as a microwave beep, or the popping of bubblewrap.

Thankfully, there are a lot of different tools, resources, and desensitization and counterconditioning techniques you can use with your dog or cat, to help them understand everything will be ok. Don't forget, the best plans are made early, and tested early.

Topics: paws and play, Dog Health, Dog Safety, puppy tips, adult dog tips, puppy proofing, Cat Tips, Cat Health, Cat Safety, New Kitten, holiday pet safety tips, Noise Phobias, noise aversions

The gift-giving season has arrived, and for many children (and adults), a cute, snuggly dog or cat is on the list of what they are wishing for.

Over the years, there has been a lot of controversy when it comes to whether or not gifting a pet for the holidays is a good, or terrible, idea.

Thankfully, from the data currently being reported, it seems as though a Hanukkah Husky, Christmas Calico, or Kwanzaa King Charles Spaniel isn't such a bad idea...as long as you do it the right way. On today's episode, Dr. J and I go over the pros and cons, lots of things to take into consideration, and if you decide to add a new family member, tips for setting yourself (and them) up for success.

Topics: paws and play, common products toxic to dogs, Dog Health, Dog Safety, puppy tips, adult dog tips, puppy proofing, Cat Tips, Cat Health, Cat Safety, New Kitten, holiday pet safety tips

While this is not a particularly "fun" episode, this is an incredibly important one. Xylitol is an all natural sugar substitute found in an increasing number of products, including some peanut butters, and it is absolutely deadly to dogs.

I can tell you that if I didn't work at Preventive Vet, I probably wouldn't know about Xylitol toxicity (or Xylitol at all), and that is a dangerous place for a dog owner to be, which is why spreading awareness is so important. On today's show, we talk about what Xylitol is, signs that your dog may have ingested Xylitol, important steps to take (immediately) if you know or suspect that your dog has ingested Xylitol, and how you can help other dogs and their families and #GetXylitolOut.

Topics: paws and play, Xylitol, common products toxic to dogs, Dog Health, Dog Safety, #IfOnlyIKnew, puppy tips, adult dog tips, puppy proofing

We've got a really fun episode with our special guest, Dr. Marci Koski, a feline behavior and training consultant who is helping cats and their humans live better lives together.

She shares a lot of great tips for better communicating with your cats, some great reasons to start training your kitties, and even walks us through a fun training exercise that takes just a few minutes for you and your cat to learn.

We hope to have Marci back with us on another podcast soon. If you've got general cat training or behavior questions, please let us know and we'll do our best to include it on an upcoming show.

Topics: Cat Tips, paws and play, Cat Behavior, Cat training, Behavior & Training, Clicker Training, feline behavior, feline training

Halloween is probably my favorite time of year. It's a magical time when people let their creativity shine! And we're not the only ones dressing up — our dogs and cats are now being transformed into Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Chewbacca, Mr. Rogers, and other superheroes.

This episode, Dr. J and I discuss what makes a good Halloween costume for pets, fun ideas for celebrating with them, and of course, how to keep things safe for everyone. If you've got a photo of your animals dressed up, please share them with us, we'd love to see them!

Topics: Dog Tips, Cat Tips, paws and play, Best pet products

If you're like me, the variety of leashes, leads, collars, and harnesses can make shopping for them an incredibly overwhelming experience. Also if you're like me, you may be left scratching your head as to why there are so many options.

So, I asked Dr. J to tell me a bit more about the variety of products on the market, why you would want to choose one over another, and why you should absolutely stay away from certain products like retractable leashes, choke & prong collars.

Topics: Dog Tips, Cat Tips, paws and play, Loose-leash Walking, Harness, Dangers of retractable leashes, Leashes, Cat Collars, Dog Collars, Walking on a Leash, Best pet products

If your cat is going into the litter box frequently, straining to pee, or can't pee, stop what you're doing and bring them to your vet or the emergency vet immediately.

Thankfully, this was something I learned early on in my career here at Preventive Vet, because when my cat, Mazel, started exhibiting these symptoms I was able to jump into action and address what ended up being a urethral obstruction before it could do too much damage, or become fatal.

This episode, I share my story in the hopes that it will spread awareness and help others more quickly identify the symptoms, and Dr. J answers some of my post-hospital questions, as well as offers some tips for preventing re-obstruction.

Topics: Dog Tips, Cat Tips, paws and play, uo, cat pain, My cat can't pee, Feline Urethral Obstruction, should I buy pet insurance, Cat Emergency

The battle of the bulge is a painful one I've fought repeatedly — and if watching the news in the last few decades has taught me anything, it's that I'm not alone. Unfortunately, the trend towards packing on the pounds is one that we have passed down to our animal companions.

The good news is, once we stop and take accountability for the extra servings, we also realize it is within our power to help our overweight cats and dogs. On today's episode, we discuss the pet obesity epidemic, and provide some simple ways to eliminate extra calories — and you won't even feel like a meanie!

Topics: Dog Tips, Cat Tips, paws and play, Pet Obesity

Did you know that we're supposed to brush our dog and cats' teeth daily? Me neither! And it turns out, most pet owners, including vets, haven't been the best at keeping up with our pets' oral health.

Don't fret, all is not lost. On today's show, Dr. J shares tips and recommendations for better oral health. And as he shares, the best solution, is the one you will actually put into action.

Topics: Dog Tips, Cat Tips, paws and play, pet dental, feline dental health, canine dental health

Road trips and big moves can be a lot of fun, or filled with stress. When you add animals to the equation, the opportunities for either scenario are multiplied.

On today's episode, we're sharing tips for successfully hitting the road with our furry companions — from what to pack, to how to use the bathroom when traveling alone.

If you've got great travel tips to add, leave us a comment and share it with the community!

 

Topics: Dog Tips, Cat Tips, paws and play, Pet Travel Safety, Traveling with your cat, Traveling with your dog, travel anxiety, Travel Sickness